come there Christ was born Though Christ's Mother and Joseph her espoused Husband did not live in Bethlehem yet God by his Providence so ordered it that Joseph and Mary came at that time to Bethlehem to be taxed and there Mary brought forth Christ Prophecies of Christ shall not want accomplishment but many have been already others shall be fulfilled in their season 2. Here 's evidently set forth Christ's Kingly Office He is called the Ruler over Israel The People would have made Christ a King at that time he refused it and went his way John 6. 15 16. Christ's Kingdom was Spiritual not of this World The People blest him Joh. 18. 36. Hoc dicit Christus refellens laesae Caesaris Majestatis affectati Regni criminationem Râ—gem se esse profâ—tens simul ac negans ut qui Rex quidem esset verum eâ gubernationis ratione quae prorsus à Regum hujus mundi imperio differat nempe quae est Ecclesiae suae Caput Beza as a King Luk. 19. 38. Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest Christ being demanded of Pilate whether he was a King answers John 18. 37. Thou sayest that I am a King and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear Witness unto the Truth Insomuch as Pilate wrote a Title Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews And notwithstanding the Chief Priests importun'd Pilate to alter the Title and Write He said I am the King of the Jews Pilate was peremptorily resolved against all alterations John 19. 22. What I have Written I have Written he would stand to what he had writ and would not blot any thing out SECT II. Why Christ must be a King NOw there are many Reasons to be Sect. 2. Why Christ must be a King 1. Christ is 2 King to appoint Laws and Statutes alledged why Christ must be a King Three only I shall insist upon 1. That Christ might appoint Laws and Statutes which should direct his People and bind their Consciences to the Obedience of the same Christ alone is the Lord of our Consciences what he commands is of absolute Authority not to be disputed but obeyed But as for the Popes Canons and other obtruded Inventions against the Law of Christ they are of no estimation only the Law of Christ is authentick and all other Laws must be in Subserviency and Subordination to the Law of Christ Wherefore the Pope hath presumptuously invaded Christs Kingly Office by pretending himself to be the Head of the Church and Christs Vicar and so making Laws to bind the Conscience But Christ is the only Head he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a demonstrative Article he and no other is the Head as the Apostle mentions Col. 1. 18. And all other Heads and Rulers must yield subjection and Homage unto Christ they must Reign for Christ as they Reign by Christ Prov. 8. 15 16. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice By me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the Earth 2. Christ is King to Rule and Govern 2. Christ is King to Rule and Govern and Command Obedience to all his Laws 1. Christs Kingdom is Spiritual and Command Obedience and keep his Subjects in Obedience to his Laws But we must know that the Kingdom of Christ is a Spiritual and an Eternal Kingdom 1. Christs Kingdom is Spiritual he is King of his Church and Rules and Governs the Spirits of Men. It was a curious Question of the Apostles Acts 1. 6. Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel They fancied a Temporal Kingdom and Earthly Preferments but Christ checks their curiosity in asking and mistake in fansying outward Dignities and Honours to themselves by any Temporal Government of Christ For Christ said unto them v. 7. It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power There are many that oppose Christs Kingly Office The Jews say Christ shall be an Earthly King and bring them again into their old inheritance the Land of Canaan and settle them there and bless them with abundance of Earthly Blessings The Papist deny Christs Kingly Office for they make the Pope Head and Supream Judge in matters of Spiritual Cognizance And another sort there are who say there shall be a Personal Reign and Christ shall destroy all Monarchies and live Gloriously on Earth with his Saints But Christ himself plainly overthrows these Opinions by his own Words John 18. 36. Jesus answered My Kingdom is not of this World If my Kingdom were of this World then would my Servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Christ by his Kingly Authority appointed Church Government 1 Cor. 12. 28. and appointed Church Officers and Church-Censures And that dreadful Sentence of Excommunication rightly given is an Ordinance of Christ Christ hath left his Church destitute of nothing conducing to the Right Government thereof 2. Christs Kingdom is Eternal and this 2. Christs Kingdom is eternal is a Kingdom of Glory All other Kingdoms shall have their Periods But the Kingdom of Christ shall never have an end The Kingdom of Christ is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion is from Generation to Generation and this Kingdom Dan. 4. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 11. is called the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ By which Scriptures not to name any farther Proof it evidently appears that the Kingdom of Christ lasteth to all Eternity when all Kings shall yield up their Scepters to Christ and all earthly Monarchies shall fail which I believe will not be till the day of Judgment Christ shall Reign though I cannot understand personally on Earth yet I believe eternally in the Heavens 3. Christ is King to Protect Defend 3. Christ is King to protect defend and preserve his Church and Preserve his Church from the Violence and Out-rage of Enemies both Corporal and Spiritual Christ hath promised his Presence to his Church Matth. 28. 20. Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the World The perpetuity of Christs presence is a preservative from the fury of Enemies Although Enemies may make Bulworks and raise Batteries against the Church yet they shall not be able to prevail against her Christ told Peter Matth. 16. 18. Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Papists hence claim an infallibility of Peters Chair and that he was chief Bishop of Rome which none of them could ever prove to this very day not so much as he was ever at Rome much less chief Bishop there But Ambrose Chrysostome and others of the Learned Fathers understand by the Rock not Peter's Person but the Profession of Peter's Faith It 's said Super hanc petram non
tuis robora ac subleva eoâ— Stella in loc When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Likewise after his Passion he presseth three times with great Vehemency the grand Pastoral Office which is saith b Joh. 21. 15 16 17. he b to feed my Sheep and to feed my Lambs Christ challengeth a peculiar propriety in them because he calls them his Sheep and Lambs Peter was not the Lord but the Servant of them as * Non igitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominus quod ipsemet Petrus agnoscit 1 Pet. â— 3. neque ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is enim est â—â—icus ill◠〈◊〉 saâ—â—guine suo redemptarum sed ut fidu◠〈◊〉 Minister Beâ—â— in Joh. 21. 15. Beza appositly notes against the Popes usurpation Questionless this charge reiterated with such ardency of affection by Christ made deep Impressions upon the Heart of Peter as may be evidenced by the whole current of his Epistle For the main design in them which he drives at is to gain Souls unto Jesus Christ For instance and particular proof of what I have asserted This holy Apostle makes it his grand business throughout this whole Epistle partly to perswade the converted * Videntur haec ad Judaeos propriâ— scribi quod Petrus esset Apostolus Circumcisionis Erasm Hujus dispersionis caput erant Judaei Babylonenses quos vel ideo 〈◊〉 â—â—minat qâ—ia â— Babylone scribebat Drus dispersed Jews to whom he wrote That the Doctrine of the Gospel is the only true Doctrine of Eternal Sâ—â—vation and partly to ingage them to persevere in the Profession thereof and to live up to that Profession For accomplishment of these great ends the Apostle quits himself as becomes a faithful Minister of the Gospel in endeavouring to distinguish the pretious from the vile Such as put this great Duty into Practice have a high Character of Honour put upon them Jer. 15. 19. And if thou take forth the Pretious from the Vile thou shalt be * Summa est eos demum censeri coram Deo fideles Ecclesiae Pastores qui non moventur respectu hominum qui non flexibiles in hanc vel in illam partem sed rectâ— judicant ex lege Dei Calv. in loc as my Mouth Now the difference is evidenced both by what they have left off and forsaken and by what they have made choice of and embraced 1. They have lest off and laid aside or rather rejected and reâ—used as a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propriè-significat aliquid repudiare in electione vâ—l etiam aliquem â—b officio tanquam inâ—ignum reâ—â—cere Gerh. Harm Learned Author observes on the word all Malice and all Gâ—ile and Hypocrisies and Envys and all evil speakings v. 1. 2. They have chosen and embraced the blessed fruits of regeneration which are represented by their desires * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est evangelium infra v. 8. Cameron New food and Spiritual growth v. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that yee may grow thereby Another fruite of regeneration is a spiritual tast v. 3. If ye have * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non est â—eviter â—â—gustare sed experiri Grot. tasted that the Lord is gracious And my Text is an infallible character instar omnium drawn from the highest valuation of Jesus Christ If the Question be propounded who are they that set the highest estimate upon Jesus Christ The Text gives in the Answer You which believe And if we require who are they that believe The Answer will be as clear viz. Vnto whom he is pretious So then onely the true Believer knows how to set the highest valuation upon Christ and he who so highly values Christ is the true Believer The words contain The true Believers The Text divided opened evidence for his interest in Christ In them are contained two Generals 1. The high Dignity Honour and inestimable valuation of Christ 2. The Persons in whose account Christ is so highly honoured There are two words which require Explication 1. Pretious as we usually read it in 1. What is meant by Pretious the Concrete But the word is in the abstract in the Original and signifyeth * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honor pretiosus vel in pretio habendâ—s a Vobis Vataâ—l Vobis honora est Grot. Honorificus est credentibus in ipsum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enim hic aptiâ—s pro honore sumitur quam pro preâ—io Zegerus Honour it self thereby shewing that all pretious Excellencys Honours Dignities Treasures and Wisdoms are concerned in Christ If Zion i. e. the Church be call'd the perfection of Beauty Psal 50. 2. How much more eminently may Christ the Head of his Church be called the perfection of all Beauties because whatsoever Beauty is in the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body is derivative from Christ the Head In him there 's a fulness of all excellencies and perfections c Col. â— 19. c For it hath pleased the Father that in d Col. 2. 9. him should all fulness dwell d For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily i. e. essentially In Christo est quicquid 〈◊〉 quritur ad constituendum perfectum Redemptorem Daven in Col. 1. 19. and personally really and substantially in opposition to the Figures and Shadows of the Old Testament Christ is honourable in himself even honour it self And he is an In ipso inhabitat plenitudo divinitatis corporaliter quia in Templo habit averat umbraliter August honour unto all his Members None of his Servants shall be dishonoured by his Service Moses was called Gods Servant Moses my Servant is Dead Joshua 1. 2. and St. Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ So he begins his Epistle Rom. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 1. It s a common saying Deo Servire est Regnare * Theodosius Ecclesiae se membrum esse magis quam in terris regnare gaudebat Aug. de Civit. Dei L. 5. c. 26. Theodosious the Emperour profest That he rather desired to be a Member of the Church then an Emperour on the earth None more noble then the Bereans who e Act. 17. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quamvis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 received the word with all diligence and searched the proprie dicatur tamen cum Comparatio hic videatur instituta non generis erant enim omnes isti Judaei sed virtutis ac pietatis generosiores malui interpretari quam Nobiliores Beza in Loc. Scriptures dayly whether those things were so The imitation of their example will ennoble Nobility it self The more Holy the more Noble If we speak of Wisdom Christ is a f Isai 9. 6. Councellor g Col. 2. 3. in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge If we speak of Riches the Riches of Christ are h Eph. 3. â— unsearchable If we speak of Beauty Christ is i
Cup pass from me Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt As if he should say Father thou couldst if it pleased thee grant an absolute pardon without any satisfaction but this way of satisfaction will only please thee Thou wilt have my Blood shed and without shedding of Blood there is no Remission I am here ready willingly to lay down my Life I have took a body for that purpose that I may perform Obedience to thy Will The Apostle Heb. 10. v. 5 6 7. quotes the 40th Psal v. 6 7 8. When he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offerings thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me In Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifice for Sin thou hadst no pleasure then said I Loe I come in the volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God The rendring of these Words compar'd with the Psalmist differ especially in one Expression viz. Mine Ear hast thou opened or digged It 's the Observation of a Learned * Ainsworth in Psal 40. 6. Est observandum quod plurali numero utens auresdicit non aurem Nam servo una tantum auris perforatur subula sibi dicit utramque perforari quià intelligit se obstâ—ingi non tantùm ad externum obsequium ut servi in hoc populo sed ad interiorem cultum et quidem praestare illi obsequia non possumus nisi divinitus nobis aures perforentur Mollerus in loc Expositor That mine Ears hast thou digged open or pierced i. e. Thou hast made me obedient to thy Voice so the Chaldee explains it thou hast digged open mine Ears to hearken unto thy Commandments or mine Ears hast thou bored as thy Servant for ever according to the Law Exod. 21. 6. The Greek Interpreters to make the Sence plainer say But a body hast thou fitted to me Meaning that his body was ordained and fitted to be a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World when the other Legal Sacrifice was refused as unprofitable His earnestness in Prayer is set down by the Evangelist Luke 22. 44. And being in an Agony he Prayed more earnestly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 augescente dolore intendebat vim precationis gestu quoque id ipsum exprimens nam ante genu flexerat nunc toto Corpore in terram procumbit Grot. Instabat incubuit magno studio ursit Hinc innuitur Commotio Perseverantia Velocitas Studium Diligentia L. de Dieu The Word in the Original is Emphatical Christ was in an Agony which was the difficultest of all Combats Martyrs strove with the Terrors of Death but Christ strove with the Wrath of God because he bare the Burthen of our Sins O! How strong must that Back be that must bear the Burthen of all his Peoples Sins Even all those whom he Justified by his Blood and Sanctifyed by his Spirit Next followeth his Bloody Sweat Luk. 22. 44. His †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnus angor Guttae Jansen Non dicit sempliciter guttas sanguinis suâ—â—sse sed quasi grumos concreti terrore sanguinis proptered addidit particulam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad leniendum id quod dixerat Steph. Thes Sweat was as it were great drops of Blood falling down to the ground Consider the Season of the Year they who were within doors were glad to keep close to the Fire and they that were without Doors made hast to get within To see one in an extream cold day sweat was much but to see one sweat Blood not little drops but clodded congealed Blood which brake through his Garments and trickled down to the very ground This is matter of Wonder and Astonishment 6. Consider the Releasing of Barabbas 6. Consider the releasing of Barabbas a Notorious Thief and Murtherer and Condemning of Jesus an Innocent Person to gratifie the People in Releasing a Prisoner according to Custome whom they desired Pilate acquitted a most infamous Person and delivered Christ the most Just and Holy one to their Will to be Scourged and Crucified I have heard and since read it Printed a Passion Sermon * Mr. William Carthwright Student of Christ-Church Oxon. p. 10 11. of an Eloquent Orator thus expressing himself What Barabbas One that Cured your Blind or Healed your Halt and Lame No one whose Violence maimed them and by the Frequency of his Injuries occasionally increased the Number perhaps of those Miracles which Jesus wrought Did Barabbas purge the Temple of Thieves Or make it their Den Did he cast out Devils Or do Acts by the Instigation of the Prince of them c. Before Christ's greatest Passion on the Cross he was in Scorn hurried from place to place from Person to Person from Annas to Caiaphas from Caiaphas to Pilate from Pilate to Herod and thence remanded with Contempt and Ignominy To make use of the Rhetorick of the fore-cited Learned * Id. p. 26. Author Cruelty walking the Circle and Impiety if ever now treading the Ring His Apprehending joyn'd to his Agony and his Accusation to his Apprehen'ding and his Condemnation to that Then his Condemnation received by Irrision Irrision by Stripes Stripes by Crowning with Thorns So far he Add hereunto Scourging putting on a Purple Robe and Reed in his hand an Emblem as they supposed of his Brittle and Feeble Government All the Men and Devils combin'd to put forth their Malice and Mischief to the height They prepared Spittle for his Face Blind solding for his Eyes Nails for his Hands and Feet a Whip for his Back Thorns for his Head and a Cross for his Shoulders They laid an Heavy Cross upon him to crush the Thorns into his Harrowed Head and crush out the bruised blood into his Furrowed Back So that Prophecy which * His verbis ad vivum exprimit dorso Ecclesâ—e semper infixam fuisse Crucem quià longè latè ipsam proscinderet Calv. Terra nisi aretur subigatur nihil profert nisi sentes spinas Sic cor humanum extra Crucem est securum indulget vitiis Mollerus Calvin applyeth to the Church may be applyed to Christ which the Psalmist mentions Psal 129. 3. The Plowers Plowed upon my Back They made long their Furrows But alas What with Scourging Buffeting and Crowning with Thorns crusht into his Head O dreadful exquisite Pain and what with Watching and Fasting Christ was not able to carry his Cross Though he bare it a while yet afterwards they compelled Simon a Man of Cyrene a Stranger to bear his Cross The Jews out of a Superstitious Devotion durst neither touch the Cross nor adventure to come into the Judgment Hall no nor afterwards to put Judas his 30 pieces which he restored back into the Treasury Because they would not defile themselves therefore they would not go into the Judgment-Hall and because they would not keep in their Treasury the price of Blood they converted it to another use viz. To buy a Field to bury Strangers in
etiam de iis usurpatur qui futura praedicunt Sol. Glass onomat the Prophet he was the Doctor of all Doctors a Doctor that nonplust the greatest Doctors Christ is the Law-giver Jam. 4. 12. The Counseller Isa 9. 6. The Master or Rabbi Matt. 23. 10. He taught with Authority and by vertue of his Prophetical Office he teacheth the Church all things appertaining to their Salvation Christ reveals the Will of his Father concerning all the ways and means of Salvation Christ was the principal Author of Prophecy He had the Gift of Prophecy immediately he exactly knew his Fathers will but all other Prophets had the Gift mediately They had their Revelations from the Power of the Spirit of Christ their gift was transient and by Intervals and there were Intermissions amongst them But Christ had a permanent gift of Prophecy abiding in him without measure and limitation For a farther inlargement of these Particulars I shall indeavour to resolve three Inquiries 1. Why Christ must be a Prophet 2. How he differs from all other Prophets 3. What fruits and benefits accrue unto us by Christs Prophetical Office 1. Why Christ must be a Prophet 1. Why Christ must be 2 Prophet 1. Christ was a Prophet to reveal the Will of God to his Church This I shall Answer in a few Reasons 1. Christ was a Prophet to reveal the Will of God to his Church and instruct them by his Word Christ received his Message not only from the Mouth of God Joh. 8. 26. but also from the * In sinu esse est proximum infimum esse dicitur de conjugibus inter se Grot. 2. Christ was a Prophet to place Ministers in his Church Bosom of God Joh. 1. 18. Christ was a great Prophet Luk. 7. 16. He was the most eminent of all Prophets a Prophet to direct all other Prophets and he was the substance and main end of all their Prophecies 2. Christ was a Prophet to place Ministers in his Church to teach his People Ministers are of Christs institution Officers Commissionated by Jesus Christ They are not a Calling nor an Order of Men of their own appointment running upon their own Heads and Fancies as Novatus made himself a Bishop neither are they of any humane appointment for politick ends and interests It is true that by Humane Authority Ministers are permitted pro hic nunc to exercise their Ministerial function in the places where they live yet their calling is from Christs Institution And Gifts and Qualifications wherewith they are endowed are the fruits of Christs Ascension The Apostle is clear Eph. 4. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ In this Text we observe two sorts of Church-Officers viz. Extraordinary as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctoris munus fuit verbum Domini fideliter explicare veluti Scholam Ecclesâ—asticam regere ut sincera doctrina dogmatum et verae interpretationes in Ecclesia retinerentur At pastorum qui Episcopi dicebantur 1 Pet. 2. 25. munus longe latius patebat nimirum ut verbâ— orationi vacarent et ecclesiam sibi commissam modis omnibus tuerentur ex quibus etiam satis perspicitur haec dâ—o munera perpetua esse â—portere in Ecclesia Dei Beza which were changeable and for a time only and afterward ceased and ordinary as Pastors and Teachers which are standing Officers and abide to the end of the World So that maugre all the malitious Oppositions of Men and Devils against the Gospel Ministry it shall continue Though it may be laid low yet it shall never be overthrown neither shall Christs Ministers be ever laid aside for Christ hath promised them his presence And that promise Matth. 28. 20. Lo I am with you always even to the end of the World makes more for the Ministery of the Gospel than all the malice and fury of inveterate implacable Adversaries can make against them 3. Christ was a Prophet to teach his 3. Christ teacheth inwardly Church by the inward effectual Teachings and Inspirations of his Spirit This grand Prophetical work Christ undertook from the beginning of the World 1 Pet. 3. 19. Christ by his Spirit went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison This is to be understood of the old World who though they were then in Prison i. e. Hell when the Apostle wrote this Epistle yet in the days of Noah they were alive and Christ by the Ministery of Noah and others Preacht unto them whilst they were in the Land of the Living Those abominable Sinners had means of Grace offered unto them They had the Ministery of Noah Enoch Methuselah and other Patriarchs who warned them of a Deluge coming And Christ by his Spirit Preacht unto them An antient Father and a modern Divine both eminent in their times fully as I apprehend expound this Scripture One saith Per Spiritus in Carcere intelligit animas impiorum viventium tempore Noah corporibus inclusas quasi carcere quodam his praedicasse Christum dicit secundum divinitatem vel per internaâ— inspirationem vel per linguam Noae Aug. Epist 99. ad Evodium Non potest dubitari quin hoc referatur ad ea quae sequuntur i. e. ad illud tempus quo Spiritus per os Noae arcam constituendi iram Dei imminentâ— praedicabat Nam cui fuerunt immorigeri Certâ— illi qui praedicabat Non potest ergo prâ—dicatio ista ad posterius aliquod tempus referri Beza By Spirits in Prison he understands the Souls of wicked Men living in the time of Noah shut up in their Bodies as in a certain Prison and he saith that Christ Preached unto them according to his Divinity or by inward inspirations or by the Tongue of Noah So far that Learned Father The other saith that it cannot be doubted why his may not refer to those things which follow i. e. unto that time wherein the Spirit by the Mouth of Noah that made the Ark Preached the wrath of God hung over their heads For to whom were they disobedient Truely to him that Preached therefore that Preaching cannot be referred to any after time There was no Preaching to them after they were in Hell All Reproofs and Exhortations then are out of date for time is past and the door of hope shut But now whilst we are on this side the Grave the Spirit of Christ moves wooes and entreats us to make our peace with God Christ sends his Ambassadors to beseech us to be reconciled unto God Now we are called 2 Cor. 5. 20. Is 55. 6. to seek the Lord whilst he may be found now to call upon him while he is near And thus you have the Reasons why Christ must be a Prophet SECT II. How Christ differs from other Prophets A Second Inquiry is how Christ